Mobiles the biggest driving risk

Using a mobile phone while driving is even more dangerous than driving while drunk, alarming new evidence reveals today.

Chatting into a phone while trying to control a car slows a driver's reaction times dramatically, making a crash far more likely.

The latest findings also show that use of mobile phones by drivers on the move has now reached epidemic levels - especially in London.

Four in 10 drivers in the capital admit to chatting to friends or colleagues while they are driving, compared with three in 10 nationally.

The evidence comes two weeks before MPs are to debate a private member's Bill, proposed by Labour MP Janet Anderson, which would make it an offence to use a hand-held mobile while driving.

The Evening Standard today produces incontrovertible evidence of the danger, after our photographers caught countless motorists in central London attempting to steer, change gear and indicate while juggling a mobile phone.

Even high-profile celebrities are part of the problem. When challenged by the Standard, Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell conceded that he had been driving round Notting Hill in his black Ferrari Spider while chatting on his mobile phone. He agreed his behaviour was setting a bad example and said: "I'm very sorry. I don't usually use my phone when driving."

The worrying research, which will heighten calls for new laws to control the use of mobiles, was compiled by leading scientists at the influential Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) for the insurer Direct Line.

Tests carried out over three months with 20 volunteers showed that drivers' reaction times were 30 per cent slower when talking on a hand-held mobile phone compared with being drunk - and 50 per cent slower than when driving sober.

Transport experts say the dramatic effect is critical to road safety and sufficient to mean the difference between life and death. They found it takes a driver on a mobile phone half a second longer to react to any hazard - such as a young child running in front of the car - than under normal driving conditions, and one-third of a second longer than when they were drunk.

At 70mph that means travelling an extra 46 feet - often enough to dictate whether the driver stops in time or hits a pedestrian.

Researchers were shocked to find that using a mobile had a worse effect on volunteers than when they had consumed enough alcohol to put them just over the legal drink-drive limit.

Each year there are more than 500 drink-drive deaths in Britain.

Today's research suggests that deaths and injuries attributable to mobile phone abuse may be even higher, although TRL scientists say further detailed study will be vital before they can quantify the problem.

The Direct Line research, which accompanies the TRL report, suggests that 10 million people are regularly using a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

Other difficulties facing volunteers talking or listening on mobile phones included a clear inability to stick to a safe speed limit, difficulty in keeping a safe distance from the car in front and failing to spot hazards. Volunteers using phones in driving simulators also missed significantly more road signs than when drunk.

Even using a hands-free mobile phone proved hazardous in the tests. Participants said they found it easier to drive over the drink-drive limit than when they were using either a hands-free or hand-held phone.

Dominic Burch, Direct Line's road safety campaign manager, said: "Most people accept that talking on a mobile phone while driving is distracting. But many drivers don't appreciate just how dangerous it is. That is why we chose to quantify the risk by comparing driving performance while using a mobile phone to driving while over the legal alcohol limit. Drink-driving is an established danger in the eyes of drivers.

"We were surprised to discover that talking on a mobile phone is more dangerous than being drunk behind the wheel. In effect, this means that 10 million drivers are partaking in a driving activity that is potentially more dangerous than being drunk.

"Based on these findings, we are supporting Janet Anderson in her attempt to introduce new legislation calling for a total ban on the use of hand-held mobiles while driving. We are also calling on the Government to conduct further detailed research into the dangers of using hands-free mobiles in moving cars."

The Bill that will be debated on 12 April could bring the UK into line with other EU countries by making it a specific offence to use a hand-held phone while driving. In Italy, the Road Code, which became law in 1993, prohibited the use of all hand-held radiotelephonicdevices and headphones. The Spanish government amended existing laws to address the dangers of using mobiles.

From last year drivers in Germany were banned from using a hand-held phone, even when stationary, with offenders facing a fine. Portugal has also established similar laws.

In America, a ban on using mobile phones while driving has been introduced in New York and a number of other US states are reported to be considering such a ban.

By contrast, in the UK it is not currently an offence to use a mobile while driving but motorists can be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention, dangerous driving or causing death by dangerous driving in more serious cases. However, prosecutions are rare and experts say if current legislation were better enforced, we would not need tougher laws.

Some police forces may also be reluctant to see a specific law banning handheld phone use as many patrol cars are fitted with hand-held radios.